Darren Ockert: A Mini Documentary

British-born, “Miami-based singer/songwriter Darren Ockert has been building up his impressive resume for some time now,” (Pen’s Eye View) and a new mini-documentary sheds light on his creative process and personal life.

Directed by Hector M. Sanchez Jr., the short film, which runs 10 minutes, was shot over a two-month period and is mostly set in Ockert’s home and studio in Miami. It shows a day in the life of a contemporary professional musician, as Ockert – who is a voting member of The Recording Academy (The Grammys) and The Songwriters Hall Of Fame, a member of The American Society Of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), and member of the Producers & Engineers Wing of The Grammys – collaborates with various musicians and engineers (Daniel Valencia, Ron Behaim). The film also offers the first teaser of songs from Ockert’s upcoming electro-pop album, Short Story Long.

Sanchez, whose past films have been finalists in the Orlando Film Slam Festival, was impressed with Ockert’s musical passion throughout the time spent filming. “I fell in love with his humor and his compassion for his music. I had never imagined even learning so much about music, and all the heart that goes into making a song. He was very honest, and vocal about his views, which I respected,” Sanchez said about making the film.

Ockert realized at a very young age he was destined to create music. Growing up with music-loving parents helped to widen Ockert’s eyes to the music world. “I remember my dad getting a John Lennon album and just playing it on repeat,” Ockert recently told The Advocate. With the help of an encouraging elementary school teacher who introduced him to his first synthesizer at the ripe age of 7, Darren began writing music on the xylophone, before expanding to other instruments.

An openly gay artist, Ockert addresses the fact that being out and in the music industry can take its toll, and discusses his conscious decision to be out from the start of his career. “For me, it just felt really important to be myself… even though it felt really scary.” Ockert looks to the successes of other out artists such as Adam Lambert and Ricky Martin as inspiration.

Of his decision to participate in this documentary and invite his fans into his home and studio, Ockert explains, “Music has played a very important part in my life. I think it plays a part in a lot of people’s lives and they don’t actually realize it.” Sanchez and Ockert hope that Darren Ockert: A Mini Documentary will remind the public of that feeling.